gallopingghost Reviews

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Spielberg a victim of his own success

[7/10 · 30 November 2023]

The bar was set so high with Jurassic Park, and the sequel so anticipated, it's unfortunate that The Lost World turned out to feel like such a letdown.

John Hammond is losing a power struggle and his InGen company to his nephew, Peter Ludlow. Ludlow plans to raid 'Site B', an island with dinosaurs, and set up a new dinosaur theme park on the mainland. Hammond, in an effort to garner public support in leaving the island as a natural preserve, sends four people, including Ian Malcolm from the first movie, to document the dinosaurs in their natural habitat.

The problems first; they mainly lie with the script and the human characters. The plot has numerous holes; notably with a sequence involving a ship and escaped dinosaur near the end. The protagonists behave recklessly, especially around dinosaurs, and their actions put themselves and others in danger. InGen's mercenaries initially appear to be prepared, but as the movie goes on, act as if they've never been in the wild before.

Even Spielberg is not on his game here. That being said, he still is able to create more tension and suspense in this movie than any of the Jurassic World movies. I get the sense Spielberg understands the world Michael Crichton created with his novels far more than any of the other directors in this film franchise do. The Tyrannosaurs and velociraptors are still scary; which is never the case in Colin Trevorrow's universe. "The long grass" scene is nightmare fuel.

The T-Rex probably suffers from overexposure in this movie, whether the San Diego monster movie sequence was necessary is debatable.

The Lost World is dark, gritty and violent, more so than the original Jurassic Park was. It is a disappointing follow up to the fantastic Jurassic Park, but it still has thrilling sequences. The special effects and the dinosaurs themselves are still top notch. And even though Spielberg isn't at his best, this is still worth the time to see.

Jurassic Park (1993)

Living biological attractions so astounding, that they'll capture the imagination of the entire planet

[10/10 · 29 November 2023]

^ so says John Hammond as the flamboyant billionaire, entrepreneur and showman of Jurassic Park. You're likely familiar with the basic plot of the movie; a bioengineering company has been able to clone extinct dinosaurs, extracting their DNA from mosquitoes trapped in fossilized amber. The plan is to create a theme park starring dinosaurs as their attraction. Hammond invites several scientists to spend a weekend at the park, aiming to get their endorsement and calm his anxious investors.

Spielberg's direction is able to create such a spectacle of awe and wonder, especially when the first dinosaur rumbles on screen. But also wrenching suspense and terror when the carnivorous dinosaurs break out of their confinement. John Williams film score is iconic and wonderful. The script is very well adapted from Michael Crichton's novel. The characters are eminently quotable.

Of course, the real star of this movie is the dinosaurs. The CGI and animatronics, are astonishing, and even after thirty years lost none of their impact. It truly feels like dinosaurs have come back to life.

Some of Spielberg's best work and the very definition of movie magic.

End of the Harvest (1998)

Well intentioned attempt aimed at evangelistic efforts

[7/10 · 15 October 2023]

A college student attempts to get back at some of his secular classmates after they humiliate one of his Christian friends. He challenges them to a debate over the subject of the end of the world, only to back down and need his friend to step in for him.

Others have already noted the seeds of the Christian/atheist dynamic that become even more prominent in the later God's Not Dead films, which David A R White also stars in. I would say, though, in this movie, it is a realistic picture of the frustration, and ill-preparation some Christians have in debating in a formal setting. They need to rely on faith based arguments, unlikely to be received well by those who expect evidence based arguments.

The subject of the movie is the not very popular theory based on Hosea 6:2, which some have suggested that Jesus could have returned in the late 20th/early 21st century. The film allows for some equivocation, but there is still the problem with hermeneutics, exposition based on modern dispensationalist assumptions which could lead to a vastly different interpretation of the text than the author originally intended.

The film doesn't address this point, which one might argue a better setting for the climatic showdown might've been inside the church, between believers.

Some of the dialogue is redundant, and the main character's reluctance to defend the topic does get tiresome.

I think the filmmaker's goal was to inspire other Christians to share the Gospel and not give in to resignation, disillusionment, or apathy. That the seeds we're trying to spread could fall on fertile soil even in unlikely settings. In this, I think they succeeded.

Early Warning (1981)

Nothing to see here

[3/10 · 15 October 2023]

Really silly movie about two people stumbling upon a conspiracy to set up a one world government.

Shadowy group of elites are manipulating global events behind the scenes to try and take over the world. Their cover is the organization "One World Foundation". Nothing subtle about that. Our two main characters, Jenny and Sam, discover their sinister agenda and spend most of the movie being pursued, while Jenny tries to convince Sam this is all Bible prophecy being fulfilled.

She's aided by her uncle Paul, who at one point promotes the 'Jupiter effect', a long discredited theory about planetary alignment that was supposed to cause devastating earthquakes in the year 1982.

There really isn't much of a plot here, the dialogue is cringe worthy. And the characters frequently do stupid and inexplicable things. On the run, Sam heads off on foot into the desert, having no idea where he is or where he's going. Being hunted down by people who want to kill them, Jenny suggests going on a picnic.

One mildly entertaining thing is Jenny and Sam's interplay, she frequently makes wise comments and gives Sam a hard time.

If you're looking for a good movie on Christian eschatology, there are better entries out there. Give this one a pass.

Captive Faith (1991)

Moving and powerful example of faith

[10/10 · 14 October 2023]

This movie is based on the book Konshaubi, written by Georgi Vins. Vins was a Baptist pastor imprisoned by the Soviets during the 1960s and 1970s. He was eventually stripped of his Soviet citizenship and expelled to America.

Captive Faith chronicles some of his experiences in a Soviet work camp. Here, he meets two other pastors, and together, they start a prison church. They even manage to keep a smuggled New Testament, despite repeated searches from the prison authorities to find it.

Testimonies of persecuted Christians are always inspirational. A reminder of God's providence and care for his children, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Future Tense (1990)

Before Left Behind

[7/10 · 12 October 2023]

When Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye's best selling series was published, they were widely seen as popularizing pre-millennial dispensationalism. As short films like this one show, many of their ideas were already in circulation.

A college student, whom has recently converted to Christianity, struggles to share his newfound beliefs on the Rapture to his unbelieving family. He elects to narrate on an audiotape, attempting to relate his beliefs without starting an argument or making things uncomfortable.

It's an interesting idea for evangelism. He says what he needs to say, and his family can listen - or not listen - without feeling pressured. His mother, father and younger sister do listen to the tape, and each of them find themselves affected. Whether or not they find what he has to say persuasive, is left ambiguous.

As stated at the start, this is Left Behind theology even before it became known as such. One particular sequence, a mother discovering her young son missing, reminds me of a similar scene in A Thief in the Night.

How you receive this movie is probably based on your already existing opinion of the Christian Rapture. As genre entries go, this one is a solid effort.

Also keep your ears open at the end for a Keith Green (RIP) recording.

Without Reservation (1989 Video)

Welcome to the Twilight Zone

[6/10 · 11 October 2023]

This short film comes across like it could've been a candidate for the 1980s revival series. The filmmakers undoubtedly were inspired by it.

One of Mars Hill productions' hailed Evangelism Trilogy films from the late 1980s/early 1990s. A group of teenagers are blindsided by a truck, after which four of them find themselves suspended in a state between life and death. Flashing between clips from their memorial service, and a long line of people waiting to hear their eternal destination from a man at a computer. Yes, it's an odd setup, what the producers call an abstract representation of Matthew 25:31-46.

The tone of this film is quite morose, with the target audience seemingly other Christians, and the goal of getting them to tell their unsaved friends about the Gospel. In this, it has its effective moments.

Detracting from the film is the gloom that hangs over it. Even the characters who go to Heaven are unhappy. And the decision making process - step to the right/left-comes across as arbitrary.

From what I hear now, this movie had its desired effect on many who saw it, and that's the pass/fail determining factor for projects like these, I suppose.

Final Exit (1995 Video)

Finally, a movie on Christian eschatology that addresses the tough questions

[8/10 · 9 October 2023]

Having watched a number of films that attempt to take on this topic, I usually find those efforts to be insufficient; typically, Biblical concepts are taken as a given, without being examined or expanded upon. People end up confused on why certain characters receive a fate they deem unjust.

This is one of the rare times where the skeptic gets a voice. Some of the most frequent objections to the doctrine of Hell take centre stage. The filmmakers don't shy away from them. An uncompromising look (at one point, a murder victim is seen in torment, while her murderer will be redeemed); I can see disturbs some of the other reviewers. The conventional ideas of Heaven and Hell (good people go to one, where bad go to the other) are still widely held today.

Some have complained this is an unChristian view, but it actually isn't. While there is no explicit example in the Bible like is shown in the movie; it is true that certain characters (Moses, David, Paul) committed vile acts, but were considered righteous by the demonstration of their faith. Where the self-righteous (ex. Pharisees of the New Testament) were judged most harshly.

I don't expect this to be the norm (in other places of the Bible, it is made quite clear that murderers will be held accountable before God). But it is true that the only route to Heaven is by the grace of God. We can only accept it. Some, or even many we deem unworthy today, will be saved.

The experiences of the four characters, their rationalizations and their reactions, may well be shared by many when their time of judgement comes.

Before it Happened (2023)

A movie about the Rapture, that really isn't about the Rapture.

[4/10 · 9 October 2023]

A detective embarks on a journey, searching for his estranged former partner, at the behest of his superior, who is dying of cancer. He brings his current partner, which whom he is at odds, and eventually needs to rescue from some thugs, who want to recover stolen sports collectibles, from his former partner.

Yes, there's a lot going on here, in a short amount of time. This could've been an OK story about redemption, two (very) self centred characters learning to put others needs before themselves.

If you've read the synopsis of this movie, you can probably guess the twist ending. This movie's main shortcoming is it's unrelated to anything in the previous 70 minutes.

Escape from Hell (2000 Video)

Familiar concept, struggles to make a controversial doctrine credible

[5/10 · 9 October 2023]

Hell is an idea that many find unpleasant and is more unpopular than ever, even in Christian circles. There have been more than a few films in cinema that address this topic but they all have the same flaws; they don't persuade a skeptical person that such a place exists.

As other reviewers have mentioned, if you've seen the movie Flatliners you probably know how the plot of this movie goes. A doctor, dealing with depression and guilt over his broken relationship with his father, increasingly obsesses over the idea of NDEs. He reaches the point of wanting to pierce the veil and experience it for himself. Predictably, he finds life after death to be dramatically different than he expected.

As with the other films of this genre, Hell is simply assumed to exist. There's no explanation offered as to why it does, what its purpose is or why a seemingly moral person would end up there. God and Jesus, central to the Christian faith, are absent in this movie.

I know you can only go so deep into theology when making a movie, without turning it into a sermon that people will tune out anyway. I still believe it's possible to give exposition or discussion around the idea of Hell in a movie that will at least interest others. Surely the Bible is sufficient source material.

Bottom line is that many have legitimate questions about Hell, notably about the justice of such a place. If Christian filmmakers set out to make a movie about it, they should at least try to address some of these issues.

Before the Wrath (2020)

Where's the proof?

[3/10 · 24 December 2022]

I was recommended this documentary, and read advertisements that claimed they had found proof that Jesus would come back. I found this intriguing, but was also skeptical from the start because of my familiarity with the people involved with this project.

I could go on, but I'll just list a few of the problems here.

-I'll save you the suspense. They don't have any evidence. They're just making parallels between ancient Galilean wedding ceremony and the Second Coming of Christ. Some of these connections are superficial at best.

-They claim that the disciples had a full understanding of what Jesus was talking about. The interactions recorded between him and his disciples make it clear that they did not. The mature writings later in the New Testament were not recorded until decades later, after they had spent much time studying Scripture.

-They lean on an esoteric interpretation; but don't explain why none of these references actually were meant for the Galileans of the first century; but rather the Church - made up almost exclusively of Gentiles, 2000 years later. Not to mention the Resurrection and the coming of the Jewish Messiah were not exclusively Galilean, and even predates Christianity.

-Interspersed with the discussion of ancient culture, are scenes where the "experts" are bemoaning that not everyone believes what they believe. Worse, they seem to think that when Jesus comes for His church, they'll be the only ones going with Him.

-Scriptural evidence is thin in this documentary.

I'm always interested in the topic of Bible prophecy but this film only reveals what's wrong with dispensationalism today. This documentary claims to be able to answer questions about Jesus' Second Coming but doesn't. Even as a premillennial futurist, I didn't get anything out of watching this. Skip it.

Years of the Beast (1981)

One of the better movies of its genre

[8/10 · 19 December 2022]

This movie is actually an adaptation of a book of the same name by Leon Chambers, which is quite difficult to find nowadays.

It's not as influential as A Thief in the Night, nor as popular as the Left Behind series was. Years of the Beast manages to cover the Tribulation period (seven years in dispensationalism) in a single movie. No mean feat, and sets itself apart in the genre.

The movie has its issues; poor lighting at times, and some of the acting is stilted. Certainly the special effects are showing their age.

This is a pre-tribulation Rapture movie, however it doesn't dwell on the Rapture as much as many other end time films. It's more concerned with believers trying to survive the Tribulation, which may be of interest for those who hold to a post-Trib position.

It manages to narrate geopolitical events without needing to have its main characters present for every significant event. It generally takes a smaller scale view. Our protagonists become the target of vengeful local law enforcement and militia, which is probably more realistic. These are things, the Left Behind series just couldn't do.

I know I'm comparing movies a lot, but one more point. This movie doesn't rely on shock value like Thief in the Night does; and it manages to tell its story in a much more succinct manner than Left Behind. Whether this makes it better is up to individual judgment. However it stands apart because of it, and worthy viewing for those interested in Bible prophecy.

A Thief in the Night (1972)

Cuts both ways

[7/10 · 19 December 2022]

Russell S Doughton and Donald W Thompson's seminal work, which was hugely influential in evangelical circles and Iowa independent filmmaking.

This isn't a particularly well made film, shot on a budget of $68 000. Most notably, the pace slows to a crawl in the third act, where main character Patty is just traipsing through the woods. An indication, perhaps, that the filmmakers had just about run out of cash.

Contemporary views of this film today deride it as exploitative, fundamentalist and attempting to coerce conversions through fear. Some of these criticisms do have merit. Surely the parents and church leaders who showed this movie to young children were not exhibiting good judgment.

The filmmakers do hold to a fairly modern, consistent view of dispensationalism and futurist interpretations of Bible prophecy. This movie communicates with the audience, gets its point across. And, as an evangelical film, does present the salvation message, although perhaps they could've gone into more detail.

I'm not sure I'd recommend this movie to others because of its horror movie elements and need to shock its audience. (Referring again to those who have unpleasant memories of seeing this movie at a young age). However if you're interested in movies about Bible prophecy and the Last Days, this movie is not the best one, but it is the inspiration of many that came after.